Hi all,
Most Local Authorities will have trainees in years 2 or 3 of the doctorate, as this is how they get their experience, so it's worth giving your local one a call if you want some first hand information. We have our third trainee going through the doctorate at present, and I've supervised one of them in her third year so I do know a bit about the courses. They are post graduate level and expect a high level of written ability and research skills, as there is a thesis project as well as the academic study. It's quite demanding, not least as the trainees have to do some 'real' work in their second and third years. It does mean by the end of the course the trainee is fully qualified and can do the job pretty well, although experience does count for a lot.
With regard to work load, that depends on how quickly you can work to some extent, as there is usually quite a lot of report writing and preparation. I've found over the years that learning to use a dictaphone has been a god send, as it's cut back on the hours of writing. Some employers are more flexible than others with regard to working from home, etc. (ours does not permit it) so it is possible to cut down on travel times etc. In comparison with teaching, I think it's generally less stressful, although challenging meetings with anxious parents or irate head teachers can be very demanding, and now and again there are the very difficult times such as giving evidence at a SENDIST tribunal. And the work doesn't go away if you are off ill for a few days.... I found running training quite stressful at first, although I don't think about it now as I've done so much of it.
On the plus side, it is a very interesting and varied job, working with children and young people of different ages, with parents, staff in schools and EY settings, and with other professionals. The side I'm less keen on is the whole direction that LA services have moved, i.e. towards measuring defined 'outcomes', recording time spent on tasks in minute detail, charging for aspects of services and a plethora of bureaucratic procedures - but then, I think teachers would probably say the same!